An Inventory of Office of State-Federal Relations
Administrative Correspondence at the
Texas
State Archives,
1995-1999

The Texas Office of
State-Federal Relations (OSFR) was established
in
1965 to
promote
communication and build relationships between the state and federal
governments, and to advance the interests of the people of the State of
Texas.
Office
of State-Federal Relations administrative correspondence, 1995-1999, is
from the office of executive director
Laurie Rich, communicating with various state officials and
agencies.
Materials include copies of the agency's 1995 and 1997 Information
Resources
Strategic Plan, a report on Texas employment and unemployment figures from
1997, an organization chart, and some general correspondence on routine
administrative matters. Few, if any, of the records document the agency's
activities to increase the influence of the governor and the legislature
over
federal action or to provide service to members of the state legislature
and
state officials.

The Texas Office of State-Federal Relations (OSFR) was established
in
1965 to
promote
communication and build relationships between the state and federal
governments, and to advance the interests of the people of the State of
Texas. The office was created by House Bill 1004, 59th Texas Legislature,
Regular Session, as a division of the
Governor's
Office and became a separate agency in 1971 (House Bill 1684, 62nd
Legislature, Regular
Session). The Executive Director of the agency is appointed by the Governor
and
approved by the Senate. The Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the
Speaker
of the House serve as the agency's Advisory Board.
The
agency has two offices, one in Washington, D.C. and one in Austin,
Texas.

OSFR is the state's advocate in Washington, D.C.,
representing
state government with the administration, Congress, and federal agencies.
The
goal of OSFR is to increase the influence of the governor and the
legislature
over federal action that has a direct or indirect economic, fiscal, or
regulatory impact on the state and its citizens, to maintain an active role
for
Texas in the national decision-making process. This is done by: working
with
the Governor's Office, the legislature, and state agencies to coordinate a
federal agenda for the State of Texas; working with Congress, the
administration, and federal agencies to pass and implement legislation and
rules favorable to Texas; and providing information to Texas officials
about
federal initiatives, and helping them influence those initiatives.

The Austin office of OSFR seeks to be of service to members of the
state legislature and state officials. It serves as a conduit for
information,
supplying copies of legislation, bill status and summary information;
and
can assist in answering questions on any federal issues of interest to the
state. Additionally, OSFR publishes a weekly newsletter when Congress is in
session. It is released on Mondays and reports on the previous week's major
congressional activities of interest to Texas. The newsletter's mailing
list
includes all Texas state legislators and members of the Texas congressional
delegation, as well as many state agency staff.

The Texas Office of State-Federal Relations (OSFR) was established
in
1965 to
promote
communication and build relationships between the state and federal
governments, and to advance the interests of the people of the State of
Texas.
Office
of State-Federal Relations administrative correspondence, 1995-1999, is
from the office of executive director
Laurie Rich, communicating with various state officials and
agencies.
Materials include copies of the agency's 1995 and 1997 Information
Resources
Strategic Plan, a report on Texas employment and unemployment figures from
1997, an organization chart, and some general correspondence on routine
administrative matters. Few, if any, of the records document the agency's
activities to increase the influence of the governor and the legislature
over
federal action or to provide service to members of the state legislature
and
state officials.

To prepare this inventory, the described materials were cursorily
reviewed to delineate series, to confirm the accuracy of contents lists, to
provide an estimate of dates covered, and to determine record types.

Arrangement of the Records

Restrictions on Access

Materials do not circulate, but may be used in the State Archives
search room. Materials will be retrieved from and returned to storage areas
by
staff members.

Restrictions on Use

Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted
and
may be freely used in any way. State records also include materials
received
by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The
researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17
U.S.C.).